A variety of metallic and oxide coatings were deposited under various conditions on 1020 mild steel substrate by conventional plasma spraying. The coating thickness, microhardness, cohesion and adhesion failure loads, friction coefficient, and abrasive wear resistance were evaluated. The coatings were classified as follows, in order of decreasing microhardness and wear resistance: alumina, chromia, 316 stainless steel, Ni-5% Al, elemental aluminum and aluminum-polyester. Wear resistance increased with increasing microhardness and decreasing friction coefficient. The microhardness and wear resistance of high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) diamond jet (DJ)-sprayed aluminum were found to be superior to those of plasma-sprayed aluminum. Plasma or flame-sprayed metallic coatings adhered well to the substrate. The cohesion, adhesion, microhardness, and wear resistance of alumina coatings exceeded those of equally thick chromia coatings.